Dulwich College promise to defend NatWest Cup in style

Defending champions' director of rugby says first XV will focus on a passing
game ahead of opening game

Dulwich College, defending champions in both the NatWest Under-18 and Under-15 National Cup competitions, host their equivalent Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School sides.

Chislehurst’s Under-18 side travel to south London following a 50-0 win against over Darrick Wood School in their opening encounter, while the Chistlehurst Under-15s arrive off the back of a 28-41 triumph away to Haberdashers’ Aske’s, Hatcham.

Dulwich and Chislehurst are not on each other’s traditional Saturday fixture list, but Dulwich head of rugby Sam Howard told Telegraph Sport that the match-up was “a potential banana skin”.

Home advantage can be a major plus for home sides in the National Cup, given the advantages of support and knowing the ground.

“We don’t play Chislehurst on a Saturday, but they are a typical, good Kent rugby school,” Howard said. “We can’t afford to take them lightly. They will be well up for this match, and are a potential banana skin for us. We’ll be fielding a full-strength team.

“It’s great to get going for the first time in the cup again, and have both teams in action at home,” said Howard, with Dulwich’s teams having performed masterfully last week on their regular fixture list. Sixteen of the school’s 17 teams won against Bedford School. Notably, the 1st XV triumphed 43-7.

Howard said: “We’re not an exceptional school side but we will be tough to beat. I don’t think anyone will want to come here, and be thinking they’ll definitely going to beat us. We want to play running rugby. We’ve got a lot of speed wide which we haven’t had before but out half-backs are very young.”

Elsewhere at Under-18 level in the NatWest Cup, west London school Ealing St Benedicts, having benefited from a home walkover in the opening round over Vyners School, face London Oratory, who come into the tie fresh off a 11-41 win away to Latymer Upper School.

In the north of England, Yarm School, 17-21 winners away to Queen Ethelburga’s College, now face Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington. Also in the North, Rydal Penrhos School, following a 44-46 win against Wirral Grammar, head to Calday Grange Grammar School in this week’s round, while Barnard Castle School meet Emmanuel College in one of the ties of the round.

In the South West, Millfield face The Blue School on the back of a 29-15 triumph over Frome Community College.

Another quality tie in the South West pitches Exeter College against Bickton College.

One of the biggest defeats in the opening round of this year’s cup came at Sir Thomas Rich’s School, who thumped Cleeve School 81-0. Sir Thomas Rich’s now face Wycliffe College, who defeated Beaufort Community College 32-14 in their opening match of this year’s cup campaign.

Desborough School have progressed to the next round after a 16-16 draw away to John Hampden Grammar School, the result giving them automatic qualification. In the Midlands, Trent College were beaten 10-14 by Oakham School, winners in 2003 and 2004.

Some of the highest scoring winners in the competition so far have been at Under-15 Cup level. Wootton Upper School finished 86—12 victors against the Ferrers Specialist Arts College, and New Hall School, Chelmsford, ran out 74-0 winners over East Bergholt School. In Kent, Maidstone Grammar School defeated Bennett Memorial Diocesan School 74-12.

This week, Wootton Upper will face Northampton School For Boys, and New Hall meet Ipswich School. Maidstone Grammar will lock horns with The Judd School.